Performing backup operations to peripheral data storage systems

ABSTRACT

A method of operating a peripheral data storage system(PDSS) for use with a host system configured to perform scheduled backup operations to PDSS comprising a user-actuated backup signaling subsystem(UBSS), a user-notifying device comprising first and second notifying states, and a host interface adapted for communication with the host system. The method comprises receiving a first signal from UBSS; communicating first signal to host system via host interface; receiving an acknowledgement signal from host system in response to communicating; and switching user-notifying device between first notifying state and second notifying state in response to received acknowledgement signal. Another method comprises receiving in host system a first request from PDSS for performing a task corresponding to a host-scheduled backup operation for a scheduled backing up of data to PDSS; completing the task by host system based on received first request; and notifying PDSS of completion of the task by host system.

This invention relates to peripheral data storage systems. Moreparticularly, the present invention is directed to a method forperforming backup operations to peripheral data storage systems.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

External peripheral data storage systems such as external disk drivesand card readers are standalone units that are commonly mounted to andcommunicate with a host computer, generally via an external cable suchas a universal serial bus (USB) cable or Firewire™ cable.

One wide-spread use of an external peripheral data storage systems isfor creating backups of data in the host system so to minimize the riskof a permanent loss or corruption of data due to a hardware or softwaredamage to the host system. The backup operation may be an on-demandoperation or a scheduled operation wherein the host system is configuredto routinely backup data to the external peripheral data storage systemsat pre-selected times, such as every midnight. In current products,however, every time a user desires to enable or disable a scheduledbackup operation to an external peripheral data storage system, the useris required to access the host system in a multi-step process.Unfortunately, users may not perform the foregoing multi-step processfor reasons such as unawareness of the procedural requirements or lackof technical know how, thus causing them to view the peripheral storagesystem as being overly complicated or inconvenient for use.

Accordingly, what is needed is a method for facilitating the performingof backup or backup-related operations by users for backing of data toperipheral data storage systems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention can be regarded as a method of operating a peripheraldata storage system for use with a host system configured to performscheduled backup operations to the peripheral data storage system, theperipheral data storage system comprising a data storage device, a datastorage system controller, a user-actuated backup signaling subsystem, auser-notifying device comprising first and second notifying states, anda data storage controller host interface adapted for communication withthe host system.

The method comprises receiving a first signal from the user-actuatedbackup signaling subsystem; communicating the first signal to the hostsystem via the host interface; receiving an acknowledgement signal fromthe host system in response to the communicating; and switching theuser-notifying device between the first notifying state and the secondnotifying state in response to the received acknowledgement signal.

This invention can also be regarded as a method for performing backupoperations from a host system, the back up operations corresponding tobacking up of data to a peripheral data storage system in communicationwith the host system. The method comprises receiving in the host systema first request from the peripheral data storage system for performing atask corresponding to a host-scheduled backup operation for a scheduledbacking up of data to the peripheral data storage system; completing thetask by the host system based on the received first request; andnotifying the peripheral data storage system of the completion of thetask by the host system.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A-C each illustrate an exemplary hard disk drive system in whichan embodiment of the present invention may be practiced.

FIGS. 2A-C are flow charts illustrating processes used in the embodimentof the invention shown in FIG. 1A.

FIGS. 3A-B are flow charts illustrating other processes used in theembodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 1A.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart illustrating yet another process used in theembodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 1A.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart illustrating processes used in the embodiments ofthe invention shown in FIGS. 1A-B.

FIGS. 6A-B are flow charts further illustrating processes used inconjunction with the process shown in FIG. 5.

FIGS. 7A-B are flow charts further illustrating processes used inconjunction with the process shown in FIG. 5.

FIGS. 8A-B are flow charts illustrating processes used in the embodimentof the invention shown in FIG. 1C.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference to FIGS. 1A-C, an exemplary peripheral data storagesystem 10 is shown in which the method of the present invention foroperating a peripheral data storage system 10 for use with a host system30 configured to perform scheduled backup operations to the peripheraldata storage system 10 may be practiced. As shown in FIGS. 1A-C theperipheral data storage system 10, such as an external disk drivesystem, comprises a data storage device 40 such as a hard disk drive, adata storage system controller 20, a user-actuated backup signalingsubsystem 50, a user-notifying device 51 comprising first and secondnotifying states, and a data storage controller host interface 21adapted for communication with the host system 30. Suitably, theuser-actuated backup signaling subsystem 50 comprises electro-mechanicalswitches 52, 53 and 54. The peripheral data storage system 10 is furtheradapted for communication with the host system 30 via the data storagecontroller host interface 21, such as a bridge controller hostinterface, and communication medium 31, such as a cable, suitably auniversal serial bus (USB) cable or a Firewire™ cable. Suitably, thehost system 30 is configured via a user-programmable schedulingsoftware. During the operations of the data storage device 40, the datastorage system controller 20 transmits command 63 to the power switch 60for providing the data storage device 40 with a DC operating current 62inputted via line 61 from an external power source (not shown).

FIGS. 2A-C are flow charts illustrating processes used in the embodimentof the invention shown in FIG. 1A. As shown in FIG. 2A, the processbegins in block 200 wherein a signal 52 a is received from theuser-actuated backup signaling subsystem 50, such as from the button 52.Suitably, the button 52 is adapted to receive a user-inputted requestand wherein the user-actuated backup signaling subsystem 50 is adaptedto generate the signal 52 a based on the user-inputted request. Next, inblock 202, the signal 52 a is communicated to the host system 30 via thehost interface 21. Next, in block 204, an acknowledgement signal isreceived from the host system 30 in response to the communicating ofblock 202. Next, in block 206, the user-notifying device 51 is switchedbetween the first notifying state and the second notifying state inresponse to the received acknowledgement signal. Suitably, theuser-notifying device 51 comprises a user-visible display device, suchas a light emitting device such as a light emitting diode (LED) havingfirst, second display states, and adapted to display the first andsecond display states in the form of a first and a second displaying ofemitted light, such as first state of a steady emission of light, and asecond state of an absence of emission of light. The flow then proceedsto block 208 in which the overall process ends.

In an exemplary embodiment, the user-notifying device 51 comprises athird notifying state. In this exemplary embodiment, the foregoingmethod of the present invention as shown in FIG. 2A, includes theexemplary aspects shown in FIGS. 2B-C. As shown in FIG. 2B, the processbegins in block 210 wherein the user-notifying device 51 is switchedbetween the first notifying state and the third notifying statefollowing the receipt of the signal 52 a. In this exemplary embodiment,the user-notifying device 51 comprises a user-visible display devicehaving a third display state and adapted to display the third displaystate in the form of a third displaying of emitted light, such as apre-selected flashing pattern. The flow then proceeds to block 212 forreturning to block 200 of FIG. 2A. As shown in FIG. 2C, the method ofFIG. 2A may further include the process beginning in block 214 of FIG.2C, wherein the user-notifying device 51 is switched between the thirdnotifying state and the second notifying state following the receipt ofthe acknowledgement signal. The flow then proceeds to block 216 forreturning to block 204 of FIG. 2A.

The user-notifying device 51 may also suitably comprise a user-audibleaudio device having first, second and third audible states, and adaptedto project first, second and third audible tones corresponding to thefirst, second and third audible states. The user-notifying device 51 mayfurther suitably comprise a user-visible display device comprising analpha-numeric display having first, second and third display states, andadapted to display the first, second and third display states in theform of a first, a second and a third displaying of alpha-numericcharacters.

FIGS. 3A-B are flow charts illustrating other processes used in theembodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 1A. As shown in FIG. 3A, theprocess begins in block 300 in which a signal 53 a is received from theuser-actuated backup signaling subsystem 50, such as from the button 53.Suitably, the button 53 is adapted to receive a user-inputted requestand wherein the user-actuated backup signaling subsystem 50 is adaptedto generate the signal 53 a based on the user-inputted request. Next, inblock 302, the receipt of the signal 53 a is acknowledged to the uservia the user-notifying device 51, such as in the form of a displaying ofemitted light, such as a pre-selected flashing pattern. Next, in block304, the signal 53 a is communicated to the host system 30 via the hostinterface 21. Next, in block 306, data is received from the host system30, in response to the communicating, for backing up to the data storagedevice 40. Suitably, the received data is from a host data storagesystem 33 or a removable data storage system 80, such as a removablememory card, adapted for communication with at least one of the hostsystem 30 and the peripheral data storage system 10. Next, in block 308,the received data is stored in the data storage device 40. The flow thenproceeds to block 310 in which the overall process ends.

FIG. 3B illustrates in greater detail the communication process of block304 in FIG. 3A. As shown in FIG. 3B, the process begins in block 312wherein an acknowledgment is received from the host system 30 followingthe receipt of the signal 53 a. Next, in block 314, the receipt of theacknowledgment from host system 30 is acknowledged to the user via theuser-notifying device 51. The flow then proceeds to block 316 forreturning to block 304 of FIG. 3A,

FIG. 4 is a flow chart illustrating yet another process used in theembodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 1A. As shown in FIG. 4, theprocess begins in block 400 in which a signal 54 a is received from theuser-actuated backup signaling subsystem 50, such as from the button 54.Suitably, the button 54 is adapted to receive a user-inputted requestand wherein the user-actuated backup signaling subsystem 50 is adaptedto generate the signal 54 a based on the user-inputted request. Next, inblock 402, the signal 54 a is communicated to the host system 30 via thehost interface 21. Next, in block 404, data is transmitted from theperipheral data storage system 10 to the host system 30 for restoring ofdata to the host system 30. Next, in block 308, the transmitted data isstored in the host system 30, such as in the host data storage system33. The flow then proceeds to block 408 in which the overall processends.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart illustrating additional processes used in theembodiments of the invention shown in FIGS. 1A-B. FIG. 1B illustratesanother exemplary peripheral data storage system 10 in which the methodof the present invention for operating a peripheral data storage system10 for use with a host system 30 configured to perform scheduled backupoperations to the peripheral data storage system 10 may be practiced. Asshown in FIG. 1B, the host system 30 is in communication with aplurality of additional peripheral data storage systems 10-1 through10-N, wherein each of the peripheral data storage systems 10-1 through10-N have a corresponding host-scheduled backup operation configured inhost system 30.

FIG. 5 illustrates the process for performing backup operationscorresponding to backing up of data from a host system 30 to theperipheral data storage system 10, or also to peripheral data storagesystems 10-1 through 10-N in communication with the host system 30. Asshown, the process begins in block 500 wherein a request is received inthe host system 30 from one of the peripheral data storage system 10, orperipheral data storage systems 10-1 through 10-N, as described below ingreater detail in conjunction with FIG. 6A and FIG. 7A. Next, indecision block 502 it is determined if the received request is a firstrequest for performing a task corresponding to a host-scheduled backupoperation for a scheduled backing up of data to one of the peripheraldata storage systems 10 or 10-1 through 10-N. Suitably, the taskcomprises an enabling or disabling of the host-scheduled backupoperation. If in decision block 502 it is determined that the receivedrequest is the foregoing first request, the flow then proceeds to block504, wherein the task is completed by the host system 30 based on thereceived first request, as described below in greater detail inconjunction with FIG. 6A. The flow the proceeds to block 506 in whichthe appropriate one of the peripheral data storage systems 10 or 10-1through 10-N is notified of the completion of the task by the hostsystem 30. The flow then proceeds to block 512 in which the overallprocess ends. Returning to decision block 502, if it is determined thatthe received request is not the foregoing first request, the flow thenproceeds to block 508, in which the request is deemed a second requestfor performing an on-demand backing up of pre-selected data to one ofthe peripheral data storage systems 10 or 10-1 through 10-N, asdescribed below in greater detail in conjunction with FIG. 6B. Next, inblock 510, the pre-selected data is transmitted to the appropriate oneof the peripheral data storage systems 10 or 10-1 through 10-N. The flowthen proceeds to block 512 in which the overall process ends.

FIG. 6A is a flow chart describing in greater detail the processes shownin blocks 500, 502, 504 and 506 of FIG. 5 as practiced in theembodiments of the invention shown in FIGS. 1A-B. As shown in FIG. 6A,the process begins in block 600 wherein a request is received in thehost system 30 from one of the peripheral data storage systems 10 or10-1 through 10-N in communication with the host system 30. Next, inblock 602, the host system 30 determines the peripheral data storagesystem 10 or 10-1 through 10-N from which the request was received. Tobetter illustrate the workings of the present invention, an exemplaryrequest is determined to have been received from the peripheral datastorage system 10 and used throughout the detailed description. Next, inblock 604, a notification is sent from the host system 30 to thedetermined peripheral data storage system 10 to notify the peripheraldata storage system 10 of the receipt of the request. Suitably, thenotification is in the form of a signal provided to the peripheral datastorage system 10 for notifying the user via the user-notifying device51, such as by a flashing pattern displayed by the light emittingdevice.

Next, in decision block 606, it is determined if the request is for anenabling or disabling of the host-scheduled backup operation forperforming a scheduled backing up of data to the peripheral data storagesystem 10. If it is determined that the request is for an enabling ordisabling of the host-scheduled backup operation, such as for example arequest corresponding to the signal 52 a described in conjunction withFIG. 1A above, the flow then proceeds to decision block 608. In decisionblock 608, the host system 30 determines if the peripheral data storagesystem 10 was pre-configured for a host-scheduled backup operation.Suitably, the host-scheduled backup operations for each of theperipheral data storage systems 10 and 10-1 through 10-N are configuredin the host system 30 prior to the receipt of the enabling or disablingrequest, in which case the flow then proceeds to decision block 609wherein the user is queried to see if the user desires to reconfigurethe host-scheduled backup operation of the peripheral data storagesystem 10. Suitably, the querying is performed by presenting aquery-window to the user from a display device of the host system 30 fora predetermined time interval, such as ten seconds, during which theuser can either input a request to reconfigure, or simply ignore thequery in which case the process will proceed to block 620 in FIG. 6A. Ifin decision block 608 the peripheral data storage system 10 was notpre-configured for a host-scheduled backup operation, or if in decisionblock 609 the user inputs a request to reconfigure, the flow thenproceeds to block 610 in which a new host-scheduled backup operation isconfigured for the peripheral data storage system 10 as described belowin greater detail in conjunction with FIG. 6B. The flow then proceeds toblock 512 in which the overall process ends.

Returning to decision block 609, if the user does not input a request toreconfigure, the flow then proceeds to block 620 in which an enabled ordisabled state of the host-scheduled backup operation for the peripheraldata storage system 10 is determined. Next, if in decision block 622 thehost-scheduled backup operation was determined to be in an enabledstate, then the flow proceeds to block 624 in which the host-scheduledbackup operation for the peripheral data storage system 10 is disabled.The flow then proceeds to block 626 in which the peripheral data storagesystem 10 is notified of the disabling of the host-scheduled backupoperation for the peripheral data storage system 10. Suitably thenotifying comprises providing a signal by the host interface 21 fornotifying the user via the user-notifying device 51. Suitably, asdescribed in block 206 of FIG. 2A, the signal causes the user-notifyingdevice 51 to switch from a first notifying state, such a steady emissionof light by the light emitting device, to a second notifying state, suchas a turned off state of the light emitting device. The flow thenproceeds to block 512 in which the overall process ends.

Returning to decision block 622, if the host-scheduled backup operationwas determined to be in a disabled state, then the flow proceeds toblock 628 in which the host-scheduled backup operation for theperipheral data storage system 10 is enabled. The flow then proceeds toblock 630 in which the peripheral data storage system 10 is notified ofthe enabling of the host-scheduled backup operation for the peripheraldata storage system 10. Suitably the notifying comprises providing asignal by the host interface 21 for notifying the user via theuser-notifying device 51. Suitably, as described in block 206 of FIG.2A, the signal causes the user-notifying device 51 to switch from afirst notifying state, such as an absence of emitted light by the lightemitting device, to a second notifying state, such as a steady emissionof light by the light emitting device. The flow then proceeds to block512 in which the overall process ends.

FIG. 6B illustrates in greater detail the configuration process of block610 in FIG. 6A. As shown in FIG. 6B, the process begins in block 612wherein the peripheral data storage system 10 is selected for ahost-scheduled backup operation of host data in the host data storagesystem 33. Next, in block 614, a portion of the host data is selectedfor the host-scheduled backup operation to backup to the selectedperipheral data storage system 10. Next, in block 616, a frequency ofthe host-scheduled backup operation for backing up of the selectedportion of host data to the selected peripheral data storage system 10is selected. The flow then proceeds to block 618 for returning to block610 of FIG. 6A. Suitably, the above process is also used during thepre-configuring of each of the peripheral data storage systems 10 and10-1 through 10-N.

FIGS. 7A-B are flow charts illustrating further processes used inconjunction with the on-demand backing up of data to the peripheral datastorage system 10 shown in blocks 508 and 510 of FIG. 5. As shown inFIG. 7A, the process begins in block 600 wherein a request is receivedin the host system 30 from a peripheral data storage system 10, orperipheral data storage systems 10-1 through 10-N in communication withthe host system 30. Next, in block 602, the host system 30 determinesthe peripheral data storage system 10 or 10-1 through 10-N from whichthe request was received. To better illustrate the workings of thepresent invention, an exemplary request is determined to have beenreceived from the peripheral data storage system 10 and used throughoutthe detailed description. Next, in block 604, a notification is sentfrom the host system 30 to the determined peripheral data storage system10 to notify the peripheral data storage system 10 of the receipt of therequest. Suitably, the notification is in the form of a signal providedto the peripheral data storage system 10 for notifying the user via theuser-notifying device 51, such as by a flashing pattern displayed by thelight emitting device.

Next, in decision block 606, it is determined if the request is for anenabling or disabling of the host-scheduled backup operation forperforming a scheduled backing up of data to the peripheral data storagesystem 10. If it is determined that the request is for an enabling ordisabling of the host-scheduled backup operation, such as for example arequest corresponding to the signal 52 a described in conjunction withFIG. 1A above, the flow then proceeds to decision block 608 in themanner described above in conjunction with FIG. 6A. If in decision block606 it is determined that the request is not for an enabling ordisabling of the host-scheduled backup operation, then the flow proceedsto block 508 in which the request is deemed a second request forperforming an on-demand backing up of pre-selected data to theperipheral data storage system 10.

Next, the flow proceeds to decision block 700 in which the host system30 determines if the peripheral data storage system 10 waspre-configured in the host system 30 for on-demand backing up ofpre-selected data to the peripheral data storage system 10. Suitably,the on-demand backing up of pre-selected data to each of the peripheraldata storage systems 10 and 10-1 through 10-N are configured in the hostsystem 30 prior to the receipt of the second request, in which case theflow then proceeds to decision block 702 wherein the user is queried tosee if the user desires to reconfigure the on-demand backing up ofpre-selected data of the peripheral data storage system 10. Suitably,the querying is performed by presenting a query-window to the user froma display device of the host system 30 for a predetermined timeinterval, such as ten seconds, during which the user can either input arequest to reconfigure, or simply ignore the query in which case theprocess will proceed to block 510 in FIG. 7A. If in decision block 700the peripheral data storage system 10 was not pre-configured for aon-demand backing up of pre-selected data, or if in decision block 702the user inputs a request to reconfigure, the flow then proceeds toblock 704 in which a new on-demand backing up of pre-selected data isconfigured for the peripheral data storage system 10 as described belowin greater detail in conjunction with FIG. 7B. The flow then proceeds toblock 512 in which the overall process ends. If in decision block 702the user does not input a request to reconfigure, the flow then proceedsto block 510 in which the pre-selected data is transmitted to theperipheral data storage system 10. The flow then proceeds to block 512in which the overall process ends.

FIG. 7B illustrates in greater detail the configuration process of block704 in FIG. 7A. As shown in FIG. 7B, the process begins in block 712wherein the peripheral data storage system 10 is selected for anon-demand backing up of data to the peripheral data storage system 10.Next, in block 714, a host data storage system 33 or a removable datastorage system 80 (such as a removable memory card) is selected forbacking up of data to the selected peripheral data storage system 10.Next, in block 716, if the removable data storage system 80 is selected,then the host system 30 is configured to create in the peripheral datastorage system 10 a different backup version for each backing up of datafrom the removable data storage system 80. Next, in block 718, a portionof data in the selected data storage system 33 or 80 is selected forbacking up to the selected peripheral data storage system 10. The flowthen proceeds to block 720 for returning to block 704 of FIG. 6A.Suitably, the above process is also used during the pre-configuring ofeach of the peripheral data storage systems 10 and 10-1 through 10-N.

One advantage of the foregoing feature of the present invention over theprior art is that by configuring the host system 30 to create in theperipheral data storage system 10 a different backup version for eachbacking up of data from the removable data storage system 80, the riskof deleting existing data having the same file names as, but differentin content, than the newly downloaded data is minimized.

FIGS. 8A-B describe the processes used in the embodiment of theinvention shown in FIG. 1C. FIG. 1C illustrates another exemplaryperipheral data storage system 10 in which the method of the presentinvention for operating a peripheral data storage system 10 for use witha host system 30 configured to perform scheduled backup operations tothe peripheral data storage system 10 may be practiced. As shown in FIG.1C, the host system 30 is a primary host system in communication with aplurality of secondary host systems such as 30 a and 30 b, and adaptedto receive data from the secondary host systems 30 a and 30 b for anscheduled or on-demand backing up to the peripheral data storage system10 pursuant to the receipt of a request from the peripheral data storagesystem 10 in the manner described above in conjunction with FIG. 5.

FIG. 8A describes in greater detail the configuring of eachhost-scheduled backup operation corresponding to the primary host system30 and each of the secondary host system 30 a and 30 b in the primaryhost system 30. The process begins in block 812 in which a secondaryhost system such as 30 a is selected for a host-scheduled backupoperation of data in the host data storage system 33 a of the selectedsecondary host system 30 a. Next, in block 814, a portion of selecteddata in the secondary host system 30 a is selected for thehost-scheduled backup operation to backup to the peripheral data storagesystem 10. Next, in block 816, a frequency of the host-scheduled backupoperation for backing up of the selected portion of selected secondaryhost system 30 a data to the peripheral data storage system 10 isselected. The flow then proceeds to block 818 wherein the overallconfiguring process ends. Suitably, the foregoing configuring of thehost-scheduled backup operations corresponding to the primary hostsystem 30 and each of the secondary host systems 30 a and 30 b in theprimary host system 30 are performed prior to the receipt of a requestfrom the peripheral data storage system 10.

FIG. 8B describes in greater detail the configuring of each on-demandbacking up of data corresponding to the primary host system 30 and eachof the secondary host systems 30 a and 30 b in the primary host system30. The process begins in block 820 in which a secondary host systemsuch as 30 a is selected for on-demand backing up of data to theperipheral data storage system 10. Next, in block 822, a secondary hostdata storage system 33 a or a secondary removable data storage system(not shown) of the secondary host system 30 a is selected for on-demandbacking up of data to the peripheral data storage system 10. Next, inblock 824, a portion of data in the selected secondary data storagesystems, such as in the secondary host data storage system 33 a or asecondary removable data storage system (not shown), is selected foron-demand backing up to the peripheral data storage system 10. The flowthen proceeds to block 826 wherein the overall configuring process ends.Suitably, the foregoing configuring of the on-demand backing upcorresponding to the primary host system 30 and each of the secondaryhost systems 30 a and 30 b in the primary host system 30 are performedprior to the receipt of a request from the peripheral data storagesystem 10.

It should be noted that the various features of the foregoingembodiments were discussed separately for clarity of description onlyand they can be incorporated in whole or in part into a singleembodiment of the invention having all or some of these features. Itshould further be noted that the invention is not limited to theforegoing exemplary peripheral data storage systems but can be readilyused in conjunction with virtually any peripheral data storage systemadapted for bi-directional communication with a host system via aninterface.

1. A method of operating a peripheral data storage system for use with ahost system configured to perform scheduled backup operations to theperipheral data storage system, the peripheral data storage systemcomprising a data storage device, a data storage system controller, auser-actuated backup signaling subsystem, a user-notifying devicecomprising first and second notifying states, and a data storagecontroller host interface adapted for communication with the hostsystem, the method comprising: receiving a first signal from theuser-actuated backup signaling subsystem; communicating the first signalto the host system via the host interface; receiving an acknowledgementsignal from the host system in response to the communicating; andswitching the user-notifying device between the first notifying stateand the second notifying state in response to the receivedacknowledgement signal.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein theuser-notifying device comprises a third notifying state and wherein themethod further comprising: switching the user-notifying device betweenthe first notifying state and the third notifying state following thereceipt of the first signal; and switching the user-notifying devicebetween the third notifying state and the second notifying statefollowing the receipt of the acknowledgement signal.
 3. The method ofclaim 2, wherein the user-notifying device comprises a user-visibledisplay device having first, second and third display states, andadapted to display the first, second and third display states in theform of a first, a second and a third displaying of emitted light. 4.The method of claim 3, wherein the third displaying of emitted lightcomprises a flashing pattern.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein theuser-notifying device comprises a user-audible audio device havingfirst, second and third audible states, and adapted to project first,second and third audible tones corresponding to the first, second andthird audible states.
 6. The method of claim 3, wherein the user-visibledisplay device comprises an alpha-numeric display having first, secondand third display states, and adapted to display the first, second andthird display states in the form of a first, a second and a thirddisplaying of alpha-numeric characters.
 7. The method of claim 1,wherein the host system is configured via a user-programmable schedulingsoftware.
 8. The method of claim 1, further comprising: receiving asecond signal from the user-actuated backup signaling subsystem;communicating the second signal to the host system via the hostinterface; receiving data from the host system for backing up to thedata storage device in response to the communicating; and storing thereceived data in the data storage device.
 9. The method of claim 8,further comprising: acknowledging the receipt of the second signal viathe user-notifying device prior to the communicating.
 10. The method ofclaim 8, wherein the communicating further comprises: receiving anacknowledgment from the host system following the receipt of the secondsignal; and acknowledging the receipt of the acknowledgment via theuser-notifying device.
 11. The method of claim 8, wherein the backing upof data to the peripheral data storage system is from a host datastorage system.
 12. The method of claim 8, wherein the backing up ofdata to the peripheral data storage system is from a removable datastorage system adapted for communication with at least one of the hostsystem and the peripheral data storage system.
 13. The method of claim12, wherein the removable data storage system comprises a removablememory card.
 14. The method of claim 8, wherein the user-actuated backupsignaling subsystem comprises a first electro-mechanical switch and asecond electro-mechanical switch.
 15. The method of claim 14, whereinthe first electro-mechanical switch comprises a first button adapted toreceive a first user-inputted request and wherein the user-actuatedbackup signaling subsystem is adapted to generate the first signal basedon the first user-inputted request.
 16. The method of claim 14, whereinthe second electro-mechanical switch comprises a second button adaptedto receive a second user-inputted request and wherein the user-actuatedbackup signaling subsystem is adapted to generate the second signalbased on the second user-inputted request.
 17. The method of claim 1,wherein the data storage controller host interface is adapted forcommunication with the host via at least one of a universal serial bus(USB) cable and a Firewire™ cable.
 18. The method of claim 1, whereinthe peripheral data storage system comprises a disk drive system andwherein the data storage device is a disk drive.
 19. The method of claim1, further comprising: receiving a third signal from the user-actuatedbackup signaling subsystem; communicating the third signal to the hostsystem via the host interface; transmitting data from the peripheraldata storage system to the host system for restoring of data to the hostsystem in response to the communicating; and storing the transmitteddata in the host system.
 20. The method of claim 19, wherein theperipheral data storage system comprises a third electro-mechanicalswitch adapted to receive a third user-inputted request and wherein theuser-actuated backup signaling subsystem is adapted to generate thethird signal based on the third user-inputted request.
 21. A method forperforming backup operations from a host system, the back up operationscorresponding to backing up of data to a peripheral data storage systemin communication with the host system, the method comprising: receivingin the host system a first request from the peripheral data storagesystem for performing a task corresponding to a host-scheduled backupoperation for a scheduled backing up of data to the peripheral datastorage system; completing the task by the host system based on thereceived first request; and notifying the peripheral data storage systemof the completion of the task by the host system.
 22. The method ofclaim 21, wherein the task comprises an enabling of the host-scheduledbackup operation.
 23. The method of claim 21, wherein the task comprisesa disabling of the host-scheduled backup operation.
 24. The method ofclaim 21, wherein the completing further comprises: determining a stateof the host-scheduled backup operation subsequent to the receipt of thefirst request; enabling the host-scheduled backup operation if thehost-scheduled backup operation is in a disabled state; else disablingthe host-scheduled backup operation if the host-scheduled backupoperation is in an enabled state.
 25. The method of claim 21, furthercomprising: notifying the peripheral data storage system of the receiptof the first request prior to the completing.
 26. The method of claim25, wherein the notifying the peripheral data storage system of thereceipt of the first request prior to the completing comprises providinga first signal to the peripheral data storage system.
 27. The method ofclaim 24, wherein the notifying the peripheral data storage system ofthe completion of the task by the host system further comprises:providing a third signal to the user by the data storage controller hostinterface if the scheduled backup operation is enabled.
 28. The methodof claim 24, wherein the notifying the peripheral data storage system ofthe completion of the task by the host system further comprises:providing a fourth signal to the user by the data storage controllerhost interface if the scheduled backup operation is disabled.
 29. Themethod of claim 21, further comprising: configuring the host-scheduledbackup operations in the host system prior to the receipt of the firstrequest.
 30. The method of claim 21, the completing further comprising:determining if the host-scheduled backup operations was configured inthe host system prior to the receipt of the first request; andconfiguring in the host system the host-scheduled backup operations ifthe host-scheduled backup operations was not configured prior to thereceipt of the first request.
 31. The method of claim 30, whereinconfiguring the host-scheduled backup operations further comprises:selecting the peripheral data storage system for the host-scheduledbackup operations of host data in a host data storage system; selectinga portion of host data for the host-scheduled backup operations of theselected portion to the selected peripheral data storage system; andselecting a frequency of the host-scheduled backup operation for theselected portion of host data to the selected peripheral data storagesystem.
 32. The method of claim 30, wherein the configuring thehost-scheduled backup operation further comprises: reconfiguring thepreviously configured host-scheduled backup operations subsequent to thereceipt of the first request.
 33. The method of claim 21, furthercomprising: receiving in the host system a second request from theperipheral data storage system for performing an on-demand backing up ofpre-selected data to the peripheral data storage system; andtransmitting the pre-selected data to the peripheral data storagesystem.
 34. The method of claim 33, further comprising: notifying theperipheral data storage system of the receipt of the second requestprior to the transmitting.
 35. The method of claim 33, furthercomprising: configuring the on-demand backing up of data to theperipheral data storage system in the host system prior to the receiptof the second backup request.
 36. The method of claim 33, the furthercomprising: determining if the on-demand backing up of data to theperipheral data storage system was configured in the host system priorto the receipt of the second request; and configuring in the host systemthe on-demand backing up of data to the peripheral data storage systemif the on-demand backing up of data to the peripheral data storagesystem was not configured prior to the receipt of the second request.37. The method of claim 36, wherein configuring the on-demand backing upof data to the peripheral data storage system further comprises:selecting the peripheral data storage system for the on-demand backingup of data to the selected peripheral data storage system; selecting atleast one of a host data storage system and a removable data storagesystem for on-demand backing up of data to the peripheral data storagesystem; and selecting a portion of data in the selected data storagesystem for on-demand backing up of data to the selected peripheral datastorage system.
 38. The method of claim 36, wherein the configuring theon-demand backing up of data to the peripheral data storage systemfurther comprises: reconfiguring the previously configured on-demandbacking up of data to the peripheral data storage system subsequent tothe receipt of the second request.
 39. The method of claim 37, whereinthe removable data storage system comprises a removable memory card. 40.The method of claim 36, wherein the configuring further comprisesconfiguring the host system to create in the peripheral data storagesystem a different backup version for each backing up of data from theremovable data storage system.
 41. The method of claim 34, wherein thenotifying the peripheral data storage system of the receipt of thesecond request further comprises providing a second signal to theperipheral data storage system.
 42. The method of claim 21, wherein thehost system is in communication with a plurality of peripheral datastorage systems each having a corresponding host-scheduled backupoperation, and wherein the first request is received from a firstperipheral data storage system for performing a first task correspondingto a host-scheduled backup operation for a scheduled backing up of datato the first peripheral data storage system.
 43. The method of claim 42,further comprising: determining the first request is received from thefirst peripheral data storage system.
 44. The method of claim 43,wherein the completing further comprises: completing the first task bythe host system based on the received first request.
 45. The method ofclaim 44, wherein the notifying further comprises: notifying the firstperipheral data storage system of the completion of the first task bythe host system.
 46. The method of claim 42, further comprising:configuring each host-scheduled backup operation corresponding to eachperipheral data storage system in the host system prior to the receiptof the first request.
 47. The method of claim 46, wherein configuringeach host-scheduled backup operation corresponding to each peripheraldata storage system further comprises: selecting a peripheral datastorage system for a host-scheduled backup operation of host data in thehost data storage system; selecting a portion of the host data for thehost-scheduled backup operation to backup to the selected peripheraldata storage system; and selecting a frequency of the host-scheduledbackup operation for backing up of the selected portion of host data tothe selected peripheral data storage system.
 48. The method of claim 33,wherein the host system is in communication with a plurality ofperipheral data storage systems, and wherein the second request isreceived from a first peripheral data storage system for performing afirst on-demand backing up of data to the first peripheral data storagesystem.
 49. The method of claim 48, further comprising: determining thesecond request is received from the first peripheral data storagesystem.
 50. The method of claim 49, wherein the transmitting furthercomprises: transmitting the pre-selected data to the first peripheraldata storage system.
 51. The method of claim 48, further comprising:configuring each on-demand backing up of data corresponding to eachperipheral data storage system in the host system prior to the receiptof the second request.
 52. The method of claim 51, wherein theconfiguring each on-demand backing up of data corresponding to eachperipheral data storage system in the host system further comprises:selecting a peripheral data storage system for an on-demand backing upof data to the peripheral data storage system; selecting at least one ofa host data storage system and a removable data storage system forbacking up of data to the selected peripheral data storage system; andselecting a portion of data in the selected data storage system forbacking up to the selected peripheral data storage system.
 53. Themethod of claim 21, wherein the host system comprises a primary hostsystem in communication with a plurality of secondary host systems, andwherein the first request is received in the primary host system fromthe peripheral data storage system for performing a second taskcorresponding to a host-scheduled backup operation for a scheduledbacking up of data from the primary host system and the plurality ofsecondary host systems to the peripheral data storage system.
 54. Themethod of claim 53, further comprising: configuring each host-scheduledbackup operation corresponding to the primary host system and each ofthe secondary host systems in the primary host system prior to thereceipt of the first request.
 55. The method of claim 54, whereinconfiguring each host-scheduled backup operation corresponding to theprimary host system and each of the secondary host systems furthercomprises: selecting a secondary host system for a host-scheduled backupoperation of the selected secondary host system data in the host datastorage system; selecting a portion of selected secondary host systemdata for the host-scheduled backup operation to backup to the peripheraldata storage system; and selecting a frequency of the host-scheduledbackup operation for backing up of the selected portion of selectedsecondary host system data to the peripheral data storage system. 56.The method of claim 32, wherein the host system comprises a primary hostsystem in communication with a plurality of secondary host systems, andwherein the second request is received in the primary host system fromthe peripheral data storage system for performing an on-demand backingup of data from the primary host system and the plurality of secondaryhost systems to the peripheral data storage system.
 57. The method ofclaim 56, further comprising: configuring each on-demand backing up ofdata corresponding to the primary host system and each of the secondaryhost systems in the primary host system prior to the receipt of thesecond request.
 58. The method of claim 57, wherein the configuring eachon-demand backing up of data corresponding to the primary host systemand each of the secondary host systems in the primary host systemfurther comprises: selecting a secondary host system for on-demandbacking up of data; selecting at least one of a secondary host datastorage system and a secondary removable data storage system foron-demand backing up of data to the peripheral data storage system; andselecting a portion of data in the selected secondary data storagesystem for on-demand backing up to the peripheral data storage system.